Happiness is subjective, especially when it comes to those factors that bring people contentment with their work.

Nevertheless, an online career community called CareerBliss has compiled data to rank the happiest and unhappiest cities in the U.S. in which to work. The information is based on analysis from more than 200,000 independent company reviews. The company evaluated eight factors that affect happiness with work: growth opportunities; compensation; benefits; work-life balance; career advancement; senior management; job security and whether an employee would recommend the company to others.

Management observers remain frustrated by the continuing scarcity of women in the top leadership roles at most organizations. Many advocate strenuously for prioritizing the development of women leaders. Business has changed dramatically in the last two or three decades; it's global, fast-paced, highly dynamic, and more competitive. They contend that to succeed in such an environment, companies must adapt by rethinking what constitutes great leadership. It's often women, they argue, who fit the bill for the effective leader today.

Would it surprise you to know that when it comes to happiness, people aged 18-20 are most likely to say they experienced happiness and enjoyment during a good part of their previous day, according to a new Gallup poll conducted in 2008 and 2009 with more than 600,000 people. That certainly didn’t surprise me. Those first few years of college were particularly stress free for me. Among those interviewed, those least likely to give a thumbs up to their previous day were those aged 86-90. Again, not a surprise to me: From what I’ve seen, people in their late 80s often suffer from the indignities of old age. What did surprise me was that happiness took a dip for people in their 40s and 50s and then started to inch up in their mid-60s. Perhaps it’s because burdensome responsibilities are highest for people in their 40s and 50s, as they struggle with the stresses of work and family life, and then decline when people are in their mid-60s as their children leave the family nest and their work life comes to an end.